The Psychology of Eating: From Healthy to Disordered Behavior

16 Healthy Eating

dietary links with breast cancer include high fat intake and weight gain as
predictive, and wheat fiber and soya as protective (Truswell, 1999).

Diet and diabetes mellitus

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes always requires insulin and
is also called childhood-onset diabetes. Some evidence has pointed towards
a role for genetic factors, and research has also indicated that it is more
common in those children who were not exclusively breastfed for the first
3 to 4 months of life (Truswell, 1999). Type 2 diabetes tends to develop later
on in life and can be managed by diet alone. This form of diabetes shows
a clearer relationship with diet. Type 2 diabetes seems to be mainly a
complication of being overweight, and the risk of developing it is greater
in those who show weight around the abdomen rather than on the thighs
or buttocks (Ohlson et al., 1985; and see chapter 8). It is generally assumed
that Type 2 diabetes is associated with diets high in sugar. Evidence for this
association is poor, and high fat intake seems to be its main dietary pre-
dictor, with high fiber and high carbohydrate intakes being protective.
Interestingly, moderate drinking as opposed to abstaining is associated with
a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Diet and gallstones and urinary tract stones

Gallstones are more likely to occur in women and certain ethnic groups.
Obesity and dieting with rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gall-
stones, while moderate alcohol intake and vegetarian and high-fiber diets
are protective. Urinary tract stones can be made of either calcium or oxalate.
Calcium stones are related to diets rich in protein, sodium, simple carbo-
hydrates, vitamin D, calcium, alcohol, curry, and spicy foods and low in
cereal fiber and water. Oxalate stones are related to diets rich in foods
containing oxalates such as spinach, rhubarb, beetroot, and tea, and diets
low in water.

The Role of Diet in Treating Illness

This chapter has focused on the association between diet and the onset of
a disease. Research has also examined whether changes in diet can improve
health after the diagnosis of a problem. Obesity treatment is explored in